Scottish Parliament and Sanquhar Representation. 121 



Dumfries were a branch of the Cunninghams of Caprington, and 

 appear to have been a family of some note. James VI., in his 

 tour through Scotland, was entertained by Provost Irving of 

 Dumfries in a Painted Hall in the Burgh belonging to the Cun- 

 ninghams. Our second member was a Sanquharian, Johne 

 Crichtoune, who appears to. have been the first town clerk of the 

 Burgh. At least he signs some documents in connection with the 

 granting of the charter in 1598. He also was the first representa- 

 tive of the Burgh in the Convention of Royal Burghs. In the 

 Records of that body we find the following under date 16th June, 

 1600 : — " The saymn day comperit Jhone Creychtoun and Robert 

 Phillop induellaris in the toun of Sanquhar and gave in thair 

 supplication desyering the said toun to be enrollit and admitit in 

 the societie and number of fre burrows as ane burgh regal and 

 offerit thair concurrence in all things with the rest of the burrows 

 and obedience to the la wis thairof." He was again the Sanquhar 

 representative in the Convention in the year 1627. He was 

 member of Parliament for the Burgh from 1628 to 1633. He 

 appears to have been a notary in the town as well as a burgess. 

 He belonged the Ryehill family of Crichtons. It would appear, 

 too, that he was not of a very peace-loving disposition, for on 

 3rd September, 1607, Andro Creichtoune of Ulysyd enters into 

 a bond of 1000 merks for Johne Creichtoun, notary in Sanquhar, 

 that he will not harm Robert Hunter, minister at the Parish Kirk 

 of Sanquhar. It is only fair to add that the parish minister enters 

 into a similar bond not to harm Johne Creichton, notary in San- 

 quhar. The e.K-burgh member died circa. 1641, and was suc- 

 ceeded in business by a son bearing the same name. 



The Parliament which met in 1641 was one of the smallest 

 which ever sat in our land. Sanquhar is mentioned in the 

 Record, but as there is no commissioner's name given we 

 may take it that the Sanquhar member was an absentee. 

 In 1643 Lawrence Davidson was our representative. He was 

 also a native of the burgh. He was Bailie in 1631, and appears 

 to ha\'e been made Chief Magistrate about the same time as he was . 

 made burgh member. On the day of Sanquhar's chief fair, the 

 feast of St. Mary Magdalene (22nd July), 1631, two men, John 

 M'Connel, in Woodend, and Hew Douglas, servitor to the Earl of 

 Angus, had been creating a disturbance within the burgh. The 

 Provost, Thomas Grier.son, together with the Bailies Davidson 



